title: Increased capacitation of buffalo sperm by heparin as confirmed by electron microscopy and in vitro fertilization.
abstract: Capacitation of buffalo sperm was evaluated by induced acrosome reaction (AR) upon the exposure of 10 mM Ca2+. Culture of sperm for 8 hr in BO medium supplemented with 10 micrograms/ml heparin significantly (P < 0.01) increased the percentage of AR and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Vesiculization of outer acrosomal membrane and plasma membrane was observed significantly higher (P < 0.01) following 8 hr of sperm culture with heparin. Culture of sperm with heparin also increased rate of fertilization of in vitro matured oocytes and their subsequent development up to morula/blastocyst stage (P < 0.01). The study demonstrates that capacitation of buffalo sperm by heparin required at least 8 hr exposure of sperm to heparin for maximum acrosome reaction.
authors.affiliation: Embryo Biotechnology Centre, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Manik
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Madan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006493:Heparin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D006493:Heparin